MSc in Financial Computing

This one-year full-time MSc programme in Financial Computing aims to increase the diversity of talented individuals choosing a career in Financial Services technology.

• It is specially tailored to the needs of graduates from degrees such as Physics and Mathematics.
• It is designed not only for fresh graduates, but also for graduates with work experience who have taken a career break, who want to change their career direction, or who want to gain an extra qualification to aid career progression.
• It provides the grounding in IT, management and financial systems required to pursue Financial Services technology careers such as Financial IT and technology management.

A unique feature of the MSc is that students undertake their project at a financial services organisation in the UK or abroad. This project placement is the first step in your new career in Financial Services.

The format of the programme is particularly attractive to women looking for a career in Investment Banking technology. Initial statistics show that 40% of applicants are women, and 45% of offers have been made to women.

Brad Novak, Global Head of End User Platforms, Credit Suisse said:

"Credit Suisse are delighted to support the Masters in Financial Computing initiative as we believe that good financial technologists come from a diverse range of bachelor degree subjects - not just from the typical Computer Science or Engineering backgrounds. We have therefore worked with UCL to ensure this course helps prepare graduates from non-typical backgrounds, for a possible future technology career in Investment Banking. With the constantly changing face of IT, technology within Investment Banking is a dynamic and challenging environment in which to work and offers some fantastic career opportunities - not just in the variety and type of work offered but also in the context of providing business solutions on a global scale. If you haven't previously considered a career in technology in Investment Banking, then this is definitely an area worth exploring."

Jon Saxe, International CIO, Morgan Stanley said:

"Morgan Stanley is committed to the success of the new programme, and we have worked closely with UCL and the other founding banks to create a curriculum that we believe will prepare you for a successful career with the firm. IT is viewed at Morgan Stanley as being one of our key strategic assets, and a critical element in our ongoing success. We look forward to welcoming students from a variety of backgrounds into the programme, and expect that they will have many exciting career options within the bank after completion of their degree."

Mike Grimaldi, Head of EMEA Technology, Goldman Sachs said:

"Goldman Sachs has traditionally focused on Computer Science and related disciplines when we recruit graduates into our global programmes - as have our competitors. We are seeking people who are creative, imaginative, quick to learn, diligent and have a highly tuned attention to detail and these skills are not unique to the graduates of pure technology disciplines. In our quest to bring the very best minds into our organisation we are delighted to be working with UCL to craft a post-graduate course that will enable us to recruit individuals from a significantly wider pool of skills and backgrounds and who mirror the diverse make-up of the countries in which we operate.

If you are interested in working with some of the sharpest minds in technology, working in organisations that span the globe and present enormous opportunities for personal growth and experience then seize this opportunity to expand your skills with the MSc in Financial Computing and start planning your career in the Investment Banking industry."

Adrian Pearce, Head of Global Business Technology EMEA, Merrill Lynch said:

"At Merrill Lynch there are unique opportunities for Technologists in Investment Banking - this is a great time to be part of an industry where innovation, agility and high performance systems are paramount. In order to deliver solutions to our business we need appropriately skilled talent. A Masters in Financial Computing allows candidates from a very diverse set of first-degree disciplines to develop a career that can match their abilities and aspirations. Technology is a great place to be, particularly when applied to a fast-paced, global working environment like Investment Banking - working alongside the most demanding clients and delivering solutions at the cutting edge of technology."